Semi-elliptic spring



Patented February 16, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EDWARD CLIFF, on EAST-ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SEMI-ELLIPTIC s'PFimG.

srnomrcarron forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,034, dated February 16, 1904.

Application filed November 10, 1903. Serial No. 130,503- (lio model.)

.ticularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention pertains more particularly to the construction of the end portions of the springs and to the novel dabs or bearing-plates secured to said ends to support or sustain the load.

The invention will befully understood'from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a leaf-spring constructed in accordance with and embodying the inve tion. Fig. 2-is an enlarged detached longitudinal section of the end portionof the spring shown in Fig. 1, the bearing-plate being shown 7 as having been applied to position, but-not locked to the spring. Fig. 3 is a likeview of same, illustrating the bearing-plate as having been locked into position by means of asuit able wedge-shaped tool, the latter being represented in side elevation in operative posithe dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. '6 is a side. elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a leaf-spring equipped with some of the features of my invention, the bearing-plate illustrated in Fig. 6 being intended to be engaged. by a hanger of usual form adapted to embrace the end of the spring and support the spring in proper position to sustain the load tobe placed\ upon it. Fig. 7 is'an enlarged central verti cal section of the end portion of the spring shown in Fig. 6, the bearing-plate being represented in Fig. 7 as having been applied to position on the end of the spring, but not locked into such position, the bearing-plate being shown in Fig. 6 as locked in position.

to the accompanying,

. Fig. 8 is a top view of the same and indicates by the dotted line 7 7 the section on which I Fig. 7 is taken.

In-the drawings, 10 designates the several leaves of the spring, these leaves being, ex-

cpt at their end portions, of usual form and construction and secured together at their central portions by means of a suitable band 11.

- Referring to Figs. 1 tot, inclusive, it will be seen that the end portions ofthe upper leaves of the spring are formed with a verticalelongated slot, that portion of the slot in the upper leaf being larger than those portions of the slot cut through the lower leaves, and that the walls 12 at the end portions of 'said slot diverge downwardly and outwardly, as more clearly shown at ,12 in Figs. 2 and 3.

The slot through theend portions of the leaves of the spring is designated as a whole 13. -"The bearing-plate (shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive) contains an elongated opening or slot in line with the aforesaid slot 13 and is formed with a depending flange '14, which 1 enters the slot in the upper leaf of the spring, and more especially at its end portions (numbered 15) is wedge-shaped, beingthicker atits lower edge than at its upper edge, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In the normal condition of the flange 14 before the bearingplate 16 is secured to the spring-the end portions of said flange project slightly inwardly beyond the bore of the lower portion of the slot 13, as shown in Fig. 2, there then being a small space left between the outer end walls of the flange 14 and the adjoining inclined diverging walls 12 of the slot in the upper leaf of the spring. After the bearingplate 16-has been placed upon the upper leaf of the spring, with its flangel i inserted into the slot thereof, asrepresented in Fig. 2, I lock said plate rigidly in position by driving outwardly the 'end portions of the flange 14 'against the diverging walls 12 in the manner represented in Fig. 3, in which .theflange 14 is illustrated as having been driven outwardly against the said walls 12 by means of awedgeshaped tool 17 which is simply in operation- .driven downwardly through the slot in the bearing-plate and through the slot 13in the spring, the effect of this tool 17 being to force the end portions of the flange 14 outwardly into close union with the walls 12 of the upper wedge shape is only given to the end portions .of the flange 14, and the diverging walls 12 are only. formed at the end portions of the firm durable manner;

opening or slot in the upper leaf of the spring, and when the said end portions of the flange 14 have been driven outwardly, asshown in Fig. 3, the slot in the bearing-plate 16 then coincides with the slot in the loviierleaves of the spring, as shown in Fig. 1, and hence when the bearing-plate is in its proper position a slot of .uniform sizeextends through the spring and bearin -plate to receivethe usual hanger or strapfnot. shown) in a wellunderstood manner. I also provide the bearing-plate 16 with an end lip 18to engage the outer end or edge of the upper leaf of the spring, this lip '18 not extending below-said upper leaf.

The novel features '(shown in Figs. 1' to 5, inclusive) comprise the enlarged opening orslot in the upper leaf of the spring and the depending flange 14 on the bearing-plate to enter and be forced laterally into said opening and to wedge therein, the said bearing-plate being slotted in line withthe slot provided in thespring below the upper leaf thereof. The bearing-plate 16 is firmly seated upon the upper leaf ofthe spring, and by reason of its flange 14 it may be firmly and conveniently looked upon the spring without deadening the end of the latter. I regard it as an important feature that the bearing-plate 16 may be looked upon the end .of the spring, because under such conditionthe bearing-plates may be applied to the springs and the springs shipped without the necesslty of wiring the bearing-plates in position to prevent their loss, and it is obviousthat there are other advantages in securing the bearing-plates upon the springs in a If occasion should require, the bearing-plate 16 may be removed from the spring by driving a wedge below the base portion 19 of said plate, the force exerted by the wedge serving to distort the flange 14 sufliciently for it to escape from its receiving opening or slot without injury to the. spring, and thus if at any time one of the bearing plates '16 should become broken another bear.-

ing-plate may be substituted for it. The

V spring illustrated in Fig. 6 is; so far as its leaves are concerned, simply a reversal of the spring shown in Fig. 1, the main leaves ofthe spring being at the lower side of the latter in Fig. 6 and receiving at their endsdabs or bear-' ing-plates 25, having flanges 26, and adapted to receive the strap-hanger of usual formin this art. The bearing-plate 25 illustrates a modification of a portion of the bearing-plate 16, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2,) in that instead base-surface of the bearing.

. of employing the elongated or elliptical flange two openings 28 in the main leaf of the spring, as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. The flanges 27are of wedged outline corresponding with the end portions 'of the flange 14 of Fig. 2, and the walls of the openings 28 in the leaf of the spring are on.upwardly-diverging lines. The bearing-plate 25 is applied to the leaf of the spring by inserting thetubular flanges'27 into the aforesaid openings 28, as shown in Fig. 7 and the said bearing-plate is then locked to the said leaf by expanding outwardly the thicker edges of the said flanges 27 against the tapered walls of the openings 28, said flanges 27 then assuming the position in which they are shown in Fig.6

spring in the same manner that the bearing plate 16 is locked to the spring in Fig. '3. I illustrate the two tubular flanges 27 in. Figs. 6, 7, and 8, so as to indicate that Ido not in every instance limit the present invention to the formation of one elongated or elliptical flange 14, it being obviousthat for the spring shown in and effectually locking the bearing-plate to'the Fig. 1 the oneelongated flange 14 is preferable,

avoid cutting unduly large holes in the leaf of the spring to employ the two tubular flanges 27.

In both forms of the invention I provide at the inner side of the base of the bearing and close to the outer sides of those portions of the flange to be expanded outwardly'a groove 30 to facilitate the operation of expanding the flange outwardly against the tapered walls of its receiving aperture or opening andto avoid during such operation injury to the metal of the bearing-plate along that portion of the flange .or flanges adjacentto the inner In the construction shown in 1 the opening through the bearing-plate and theopening through the lower leaves of the spring jproperly register with each other when the bearing-plate has been secured in position, and this feature is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5.. Fig. 5 also-illustrates the feature, herein: before referred to, of the wedged expansible portion of the flange 14 .being at the end'portions only of said flange,it being unnecessary in the bearing of Fig. 1 to have a flange 14 of wedge shape through its entirelength, it being sufficient that this flange be made of wedgeshape at two opposite portions only.

I form the tubular flanges 27 of wedge shape throughout their circumference because they aresmall in diameter and may easily be expanded outwardly by driving a circular tool or rod through them.

consists in providing-the bearing-plates with flanges to be expanded outwardly against undercut or diverging walls in the main leaf of the spring and also in the special features of construction; hereinafter claimed, connected :with the employment of said flange.

- WhatI claim as'my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The spring formed of leaves, the main or outer one of which contains vertical openings in its ends, the walls of said openings being undercut or diverging, combined with end bearing-plates applied to the ends of said spring and having. flanges to enter the said openings, said flanges :being adapted to be i moved outwardly against said diverging walls for locking said plates upon the spring; substantially as set forth.

2. The spring formed of leaves, theouter one of which has undercut or diverging surfaces at its end portions, combined with end bear- 1 ing platesapplied to the ends of, the spring and having integral flanges adapted it be pressed against said diverging surfaces for firmly locking saidplates in position, said flanges being of wedge shape or thicker at their outer than at their inner end adjacent to said plates, thereby providing an increased thickness of metal to engage said undercut surfaces; substantially as set forth.

.3. The. spring formed of leaves,'the longer ones of which contain the vertical openings at their ends, the open ngs in the outer leaf be ing larger than the openings in the leaves adjoining it, co bined'with 'the end bearing- I plates applied tothe ends of said spring and havingfianges to enter the said openings in the said outer leaf, said bearing-plateshaving the openings through them and the inner walls of said flanges, when said bearing-plates are in position, being in line with the walls of said openings in the leaves below the outer leaf; substantially as set forth.

4. The spring formed of leaves, the outer ones of which contain the vertical openings in their ends, the openings in the outer leaf being larger than the openings in the adjoining leaves and having walls which areundercut or diverging, combined with end bearing-plates applied to the ends of said springand having flanges to enter the said openings in the outer leaf, said flanges being adapted to be moved outwardly against said diverging walls for locking said plates upon the spring, and the innerwalls of said flanges, when said plates are locked in position, being in line with the openings, in the leaves adjacent to the outer leaf; substantially asset forth.

5. The spring formed of leaves, the outer one of which contains the vertical openings in its ends, the walls of said openings being undercut or diverging, combined with end bearingplates applied to'the ends of said springand having flanges to enter the said openings formed therein, said flanges having a wedge shape and being thicker at their outer entering end than "at their inner end adapted to move outwardly against said'diverging walls --for locking said plates upon the spring; substantially as set forth. 4

6. The spring formed of leaves, the outer one ofwhich has undercut or diverging surfaces at its end portions, combined with end bearing-plates appliedv to the ends of the spring and having integral flanges adapted to be pressed against saiddiverging surfaces for firmly locking said plates in position; substantially as set forth. a

Signed at New York, in the'county'of New York and State of New York, this 9th dayof November, A. D.- 1903. i

. EDWARD CLIFF.

Witnesses:

. CHAs. C. GrLL ARTHUR MARION. 

